Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[What Obama's win could mean for the auto industry over the next 4 years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/07/what-obamas-win-could-mean-for-the-auto-industry-over-the-next/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/07/what-obamas-win-could-mean-for-the-auto-industry-over-the-next/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/07/what-obamas-win-could-mean-for-the-auto-industry-over-the-next/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



The 2012 Presidential election is in the books and those in swing states must be looking forward to the absence of countless campaign ads. However, those with their eyes on electric vehicles and reduced emissions from automobiles may be looking forward to what the President's second term in office has in store.

So what of the future of the auto industry? Perhaps the initiative with the most immediate impact is the continued pursuit of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard of 54.5 miles per gallon for cars by 2025. Some dealers have voiced displeasure with the added price of making these vehicles more fuel efficient. Additionally, a new challenge is ensuring those standards are actually met and automakers are reporting fuel economy numbers properly - a reality recently experienced by Kia and Hyundai. Still automakers in general approve of having clear standards to which they can refer.

The President's re-election should see the returned attention to electric vehicles as well. This year, Obama proposed an increase in the tax credit for electric vehicles, from $7,500 up to $10,000, in the pursuit of 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015.

Another area where regulation will be pushed is in vehicle safety, where the Obama administration will seek to require all new vehicles to have a backup camera by 2014. Other regulations may be pursued in the area of navigation and advanced digital displays, and the safety impact of this rapidly progressing technology. With no reelection to concern him, Obama will likely double down on efforts to see through these initiatives in fuel economy and electric vehicles.

What Obama's win could mean for the auto industry over the next 4 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamacafecorporate average fuel economyobamaWed, 07 Nov 2012 10:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20373005/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/07/what-obamas-win-could-mean-for-the-auto-industry-over-the-next/20373005/article-detail.xml 20373005 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/obama-victory-speech-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/obama-victory-speech-628.jpg <![CDATA[New CAFE rules officially finalized; 54.5 mpg is like making gas $1/gallon cheaper]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/new-cafe-rules-officially-finalized-54-5-mpg-is-like-making-gas/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/new-cafe-rules-officially-finalized-54-5-mpg-is-like-making-gas/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/new-cafe-rules-officially-finalized-54-5-mpg-is-like-making-gas/#commentsFiled under:

Sixties Ford model being refueled

Increasing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for model year 2017-2025 cars to 54.5 miles per gallon was first proposed in July 2011. Since then, there has been a lot of back and forth, a lot of positive and negative responses, and, lately, a delay for unknown reasons. Since the CAFE rules were not changed between the mid-1980s and when President Obama came into office and rules for 2012-2016 model year vehicles were put in place in 2010, it's not a huge surprise this update took so long. That's all over now.

Department of Transportation secretary Ray LaHood and Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson announced the official finalization of new federal fuel efficiency standards in a Tuesday conference call. Some headline numbers from the call:
  • The reduced fuel use will save American families over $1.7 trillion dollars in fuel costs.
  • Vehicles on American roads will use two million barrels of oil less per day by 2025, "as much as half of the oil we import from OPEC each day."
  • More efficient cars will be more expensive, but LaHood said that the buyers can expect average fuel savings of $8,000 per vehicle (over the life of the vehicle) for a 2025 model year car compared to a similar vehicle from 2010, using today's prices. That's equivalent to gas being a dollar a gallon cheaper.
  • You like lower emissions? The new standards will "reduc[e] emissions by 6 billion metric tons over the life of the program - more than the total amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the United States in 2010."
We've heard a lot of those numbers before, but there were some items in the press release (not addressed on the call) that caught our eye. Specifically:

The program also includes targeted incentives to encourage early adoption and introduction into the marketplace of advanced technologies to dramatically improve vehicle performance, including:
Incentives for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cells vehicles;
Incentives for hybrid technologies for large pickups and for other technologies that achieve high fuel economy levels on large pickups;
Incentives for natural gas vehicles;
Credits for technologies with potential to achieve real-world greenhouse gas reductions and fuel economy improvements that are not captured by the standards test procedures.

We don't know how these incentives stack (or don't) with current incentives or if they're just the ones already in place, but we've put in a call to the EPA to find out. We'll let you know when we hear back. A sample of early responses to the official rules - all positive, so far - is available below.

Continue reading New CAFE rules officially finalized; 54.5 mpg is like making gas $1/gallon cheaper

New CAFE rules officially finalized; 54.5 mpg is like making gas $1/gallon cheaper originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecafe standardscorporate average fuel economyepafuel economylisa jacksonmiles per gallonmpgobamaray lahoodWed, 29 Aug 2012 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20311901/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/29/new-cafe-rules-officially-finalized-54-5-mpg-is-like-making-gas/20311901/article-detail.xml 20311901 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/refueling-old-ford_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/refueling-old-ford.jpg <![CDATA[House Republicans urge White House to delay 2017-2025 fuel economy standards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/22/house-republicans-urge-white-house-to-delay-2017-2025-fuel-econo/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/22/house-republicans-urge-white-house-to-delay-2017-2025-fuel-econo/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/22/house-republicans-urge-white-house-to-delay-2017-2025-fuel-econo/#commentsFiled under: ,



Representatives from the Republican Party have asked President Obama to delay pushing through strict new automotive fuel economy regulations. The trio of top GOP legislators consists of auto dealer Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, Jim Jordan (also of PA) and House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa of California (pictured). The three legislators are calling for further review of the 2017-2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy targets. According to a report by The Detroit News, Issa says "Higher fuel efficiency standards is a goal I share - but not at the expense of consumer safety."

As the report notes, a deal was struck last summer that would actually lower fuel economy increases from 2017-2021 of 3.5 percent annually for light trucks and five percent every year for cars. Part of this pact stipulated a mid-term review to confirm that reaching these goals was even possible.

The National High Traffic Safety Administration, along with the Environmental Protection Agency decided not to meet a self-imposed Wednesday deadline for finalization of the new rules. NHTSA head David Strickland has said that the new regulations will be announced in "days, not weeks," while one House Republican has suggested that the White House may be having misgivings about pushing the legislation through now.

It is said that the new standards will cost the auto industry $157.3 billion, but could eventually result in $1.7 trillion in savings for consumers on fuel expenditures. Unfortunately, the new standards could also mean an additional $2,000 to the price of the average automobile by 2025. According to Representative Kelly, "the new CAFE standards will limit choice, compromise safety, and increase costs to millions of Americans..."

The issue may be out of their control, however, as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood noted in a recent interview that the legislation is "... coming soon. We're working with the White House and the EPA to roll it out."

House Republicans urge White House to delay 2017-2025 fuel economy standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecafe standardscarbcorporate average fuel economydarrell issadavid stricklandepaepa regulationsfuel economyjim jordanmike kellympgray lahoodWed, 22 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20306437/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/22/house-republicans-urge-white-house-to-delay-2017-2025-fuel-econo/20306437/article-detail.xml 20306437 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/rep-darrell-issa_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/rep-darrell-issa.jpg <![CDATA[CAFE standards upheld by U.S. appeals court]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/cafe-standards-upheld-by-u-s-appeals-court/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/cafe-standards-upheld-by-u-s-appeals-court/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/27/cafe-standards-upheld-by-u-s-appeals-court/#commentsFiled under: ,

Car2Go Smart For Two in front of Capitol

No dice, partner.

Federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for 2012-16 were upheld this week by a U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., quashing efforts by certain industries and a number of states to overturn the mandate, The Detroit News reports.

The standards, which have been backed by the Obama Administration, require fleetwide fuel economy to reach 34.1 miles per gallon by 2016. The mandate, made in part to address evidence of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions, has been backed by most major automakers, including Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.

The Obama Administration is expected later this year to settle on CAFE standards proposed last year for 2025. That mandate requires a 54.5-miles-per-gallon CAFE standard, which equals about 40 miles per gallon in real-world terms.

Fleetwide new-car averages neared all-time highs of about 23 miles per gallon earlier this year, though they have fallen slightly during the past couple of months as gas prices have dropped.

CAFE standards upheld by U.S. appeals court originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appeals courtcafecorporate average fuel economyfuel economyfuel standardsgas mileageobamatexasWed, 27 Jun 2012 15:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20266824/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/27/cafe-standards-upheld-by-u-s-appeals-court/20266824/article-detail.xml 20266824 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/car2godc_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/car2godc.jpg <![CDATA[Romney vows to dump federal stake in GM quickly]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/05/romney-vows-to-dump-federal-stake-in-gm-quickly/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/05/romney-vows-to-dump-federal-stake-in-gm-quickly/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/05/romney-vows-to-dump-federal-stake-in-gm-quickly/#commentsFiled under:



With a multi-volume list of issues that a presidential hopeful could discuss, we aren't sure why Mitt Romney keeps circling back to the auto industry bailouts, but here we are again. He's lately swinging his stick at the U.S. Treasury Department for not having sold its 26.5-percent stake in General Motors, accusing it of holding back on the stock sale to avoid having to report a multi-billion dollar loss before the election.

At GM's current stock price, the government would lose about $16 billion by sellings its 500 million shares, a number that hasn't much changed from several months ago. Romney said the government has "no reason" for not selling, and a report of his interview with The Detroit News says that "he'd sell the stock quickly if he wins the White House." A Treasury spokesman responded with "We have to balance maximizing recovery for the taxpayers with the speed of exit."

On top of that, Romney said that if he becomes POTUS, he would take another look at Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, believing that "The best approach is to try and build vehicles that people want, rather than having the government telling the companies what they must make." It's a line we've heard (and even uttered) often, but the nexus of government regulations, consumer desires, viable business models and long-term industry concerns is a moving target shifty enough to confuse quantum physicists.

Either way, it's clearly fair to expect more jabs from Romney at President Obama and the auto bailout as the campaign season grinds toward election day.

Romney vows to dump federal stake in GM quickly originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto industry bailoutbailoutcafecorporate average fuel economygeneral motorsgmgovernment motorsmitt romneyobama administrationstock pricetarpus treasuryTue, 05 Jun 2012 11:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20251752/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/05/romney-vows-to-dump-federal-stake-in-gm-quickly/20251752/article-detail.xml 20251752 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/romney-in-detroit_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/romney-in-detroit.jpg <![CDATA[New vehicles 14% more fuel efficient than four years ago]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/new-vehicles-14-more-fuel-efficient-than-four-years-ago/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/new-vehicles-14-more-fuel-efficient-than-four-years-ago/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/new-vehicles-14-more-fuel-efficient-than-four-years-ago/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ford Capless Fuel Filler

It's amazing what a little regulation can do for an industry. In the past four years, the fuel economy of new vehicles has improved by an average of 14 percent, according to a new study by the University of Michigan. This increase comes on the heels of big hikes in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, which Congress raised in 2007 for the first time in decades. Since then, CAFE has been set at 34.1 miles per gallon by 2016, and a new proposal that's pending would raise the fuel economy standard to 54.5 mpg by 2025.

The Michigan study showed that the average fuel efficiency of 2012 light-duty vehicles on the market was 21.5 mpg, up from 18.9 in 2008. Adjusted for the vehicles that are actually purchased, the number is even higher, with 2011 coming in at 22.5 mpg. Researchers say that shows that consumers are buying models with better fuel economy.

The biggest efficiency improvements over the past four years came from diesels, which jumped 9.8 mpg, likely as a result of more diesel passenger cars being offered. Hybrids, oddly enough, saw their average fuel economy drop by 3 mpg's, no doubt because of a number of larger and thirstier hybrids hitting the market, like the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid.

Click past the jump to read the full press release.

Continue reading New vehicles 14% more fuel efficient than four years ago

New vehicles 14% more fuel efficient than four years ago originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecayenne hybridcorporate average fuel economydieselfuel economyfuel efficiencygas mileagehybridporscheuniversity of michiganFri, 10 Feb 2012 09:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20166169/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/10/new-vehicles-14-more-fuel-efficient-than-four-years-ago/20166169/article-detail.xml 20166169 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/ford-capless-fuel-filler-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/ford-capless-fuel-filler-opt.jpg <![CDATA[California breaks rank again, demands over 15% of cars sold be non-polluting by 2025]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/california-breaks-rank-again-demands-over-15-of-cars-sold-be-n/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/california-breaks-rank-again-demands-over-15-of-cars-sold-be-n/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/california-breaks-rank-again-demands-over-15-of-cars-sold-be-n/#commentsFiled under: , ,

California Air Resources Board

Less than a year after everyone with any sort of say in the matter seemed to agree that 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025 was a properly attainable goal, the California Air Resources Board has decided to change things up a bit.

In addition to CAFE requirements of a 54.5-mpg fleet average (using the government's formula, not what you see on window stickers), at least 15.4 percent of all cars sold by any major automaker doing business in California will have to be either fully electric, a plug-in hybrid or be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell by 2025. There are questions about the "over-compliance" section of the bill, which we'll be investigating further.

According to Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, 15.4 percent is "actually a relatively modest goal, but that's all that we're mandating." Most automakers are on board, says Nichols. "Probably the most heartening aspect of this whole rulemaking was the level of cooperation that we received from the industry... Overall, the degree of support for the package was just extraordinary."

Even if automakers are on board, though, there's still a question of who will actually buy the vehicles. While everyone wants better fuel efficiency, not everyone is willing to pay for it, counters the California New Car Dealers Association, estimating that the plan would add about $3,200 to the average price of a new car or truck. Perhaps to help dissuade such fears, Nichols added that "direct incentives to people who buy these cars (like) rebates and credits" are also in the works.

At least 10 more states are likely to follow California's lead, reports Automotive News. That would put the total number of advanced green vehicles (either with a plug or powered by hydrogen) at around three million total units by 2025, 1.4 million of which would be in California.

California breaks rank again, demands over 15% of cars sold be non-polluting by 2025 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecaliforniacalifornia air resources boardcarbevfuel economyfuel mileagemary nicholsphevzero emissionsFri, 27 Jan 2012 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20158865/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/27/california-breaks-rank-again-demands-over-15-of-cars-sold-be-n/20158865/article-detail.xml 20158865 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/carb-meeting_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/carb-meeting.jpg <![CDATA[UAW President Bob King pumped about new CAFE standards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/uaw-president-bob-king-pumped-about-new-cafe-standards/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/uaw-president-bob-king-pumped-about-new-cafe-standards/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/uaw-president-bob-king-pumped-about-new-cafe-standards/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bob King, United Auto Workers president

Bob King, President of the United Auto Workers, is adding his voice to those who have already chimed in with support for the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. In what might be a historic break from the union's contentious past, King is throwing in for the new fuel efficiency rules because he thinks it will mean jobs for his members as the auto industry reacts to the mandate.

In the past, such a decree could have meant much wailing and gnashing of teeth from both the automakers and labor unions. Instead, The Detroit News reports King told a meeting of representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency and Nathional Highway Traffic Safety Administration "We are excited about the new green technologies that are being developed in the United states and produced in UAW-represented facilities." King went on to praise the rules as a change that will save people money at the gas pump and reduce pollution.

The proceedings in Detroit weren't all smiles, however. Don Chalmers of the National Automobile Dealers Association expressed worry that the technology to make the fuel efficiency goal possible will tack on between $3,500 to $5,000 to the price of new vehicles, squeezing buyers with low cashflow or difficult credit inordinately. Still, the surprising bout of rainbows and puppy dogs that this latest CAFE requirement has engendered may be a harbinger of a new attitude all-around, as long as dealers can figure out how to put buyers into the newly efficient cars that automakers and labor leaders are so pleased to be creating.

UAW President Bob King pumped about new CAFE standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2025 cafe targetbob kingbob king cafecafecafe 2025corporate average fuel economydon chalmersfuel economympgnational automobile dealers associationuawWed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20150789/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/18/uaw-president-bob-king-pumped-about-new-cafe-standards/20150789/article-detail.xml 20150789 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bob-king-uaw-boss-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/bob-king-uaw-boss-628.jpg <![CDATA[Consumer groups back 54.5 mpg standard as hearings commence]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/consumer-groups-back-54-5-mpg-standard-as-hearings-commence/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/consumer-groups-back-54-5-mpg-standard-as-hearings-commence/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/17/consumer-groups-back-54-5-mpg-standard-as-hearings-commence/#commentsFiled under:



Experts have already predicted that toughened fuel efficiency standards will lead to cleaner air and help wean the United States from its reliance on foreign oil. Turns out, they could benefit consumer's wallets too.

That's the conclusion of the Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America, which briefed reporters on Jan. 12 in preparation for a series of three public hearings that begin today, January 17, in Detroit on the new 54.5 mile-per-gallon standard currently under government scrutiny. That is the fuel economy average the Obama Administration wants automakers to achieve by 2025. There are two more hearings this month, one in San Francisco and one in Philadelphia.

The two consumer organizations said the new standard will save the average driver approximately $3,000 over a decade of ownership. Both groups said they would endorse an agreement between the Obama administration and automakers to implement the new standard by 2025. But there is a lot of chatter in the auto industry about whether this is a standard that American car buyers are really interested in.

On one hand, 80 percent of consumers say they are interested in owning a hybrid or electric vehicle, according to a recent study by Consumer Reports. On the other, recent sales figures show they are buying an increasing amount of SUV and crossover vehicles as they get used to gas prices hovering around $3.50 per gallon for regular.

What gives?

In the context of what happens when automakers start producing vehicles that meet toughened fuel efficiency standards, that's a multi-million dollar question. Some skittish industry insiders fear a gap will develop between what's being sold and what customers want.

That's not necessarily the case, says Dr. Mark Cooper, the director of research for the Consumer Federation of America. He said the 54.5 mpg standard won't favor smaller vehicles.

"These standards have no bias against size," he said Thursday. "If you want to buy a big vehicle, it will be there. It will have to be more fuel efficient, and that is exactly the point. People will still love their SUVs, and they'll love them a lot more when they get 40 miles per gallon."

Consumer groups back 54.5 mpg standard as hearings commence originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>54.5 mpgcafeconsumer federation of americaconsumers unionfuel economy standardsmark cooperobamaTue, 17 Jan 2012 15:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20149706/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/17/consumer-groups-back-54-5-mpg-standard-as-hearings-commence/20149706/article-detail.xml 20149706 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/gyi0064482435-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/gyi0064482435-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Why the 2013 Dodge Dart won't really get 40 mpg combined]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/why-the-2013-dodge-dart-wont-really-get-40-mpg-combined/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/why-the-2013-dodge-dart-wont-really-get-40-mpg-combined/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/why-the-2013-dodge-dart-wont-really-get-40-mpg-combined/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Dodge Dart

Chrysler dropped a bombshell today, insinuating that its forthcoming 2013 Dodge Dart will have a combined fuel economy of 40 miles per gallon. Some media outlets have regurgitated this number without question. But it just isn't true, as that 40-mpg fuel economy number is unadjusted and will most certainly be lower once it gets printed on window stickers.

To better understand the way fuel economy numbers get calculated, we'll point you to this page on the Environmental Protection Agency's website. The short version is that cars are tested by the EPA to determine fuel economy for Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE), then adjusted for real world conditions before they are published, both on the EPA website and on Monroneys, or window stickers. City numbers are dropped by 10 percent, while highway numbers get a 22-percent reduction. Some rough estimating says that the Dart will probably be rated at about 34-mpg combined once the final adjustments are made. Still a good score, for sure, but far from 40.

So why did Chrysler even mention 40? In its big announcement today that Fiat had increased its ownership stake, the explanation is that Chrysler has met one of the conditions of the bankruptcy agreement, that it produce a 40-mpg vehicle for CAFE. That vehicle is the Dart.

Could Chrysler have done a better job of explaining what the fuel economy number really means? Sure, but then we wouldn't have been able to write this post.

Continue reading Why the 2013 Dodge Dart won't really get 40 mpg combined

Why the 2013 Dodge Dart won't really get 40 mpg combined originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 dodge dart40 mpg40 mpg combinedcafedartdodgeenvironmental protection agencyepafuel economyThu, 05 Jan 2012 12:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20141216/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/05/why-the-2013-dodge-dart-wont-really-get-40-mpg-combined/20141216/article-detail.xml 20141216 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-2013-dodge-dart-teaser-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/01-2013-dodge-dart-teaser-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Why CAFE changes could lead to larger cars, not smaller ones]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/why-cafe-changes-could-lead-to-larger-cars-not-smaller-ones/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/why-cafe-changes-could-lead-to-larger-cars-not-smaller-ones/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/why-cafe-changes-could-lead-to-larger-cars-not-smaller-ones/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2012 Ford F-Series Super Duty

A study by the University of Michigan shows that auto manufacturers could meet tougher fuel economy standards simply by increasing the size of the vehicles they sell. A "footprint-based" formula for calculating mileage targets was adopted when Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards were revised in 2007. Researchers now think this could lead to bigger vehicles on the road rather than increases in fuel economy for our nation's fleet.

"It's cheaper to make large vehicles, and meeting fuel-economy standards costs [manufacturers] money in implementing and looking at what consumers will purchase," one of the researchers told Automotive News.

The study simulated changes that auto manufacturers could make to 473 different vehicles in order to meet the new regulations. The model allowed for changing the size of vehicles, as well as adding fuel-saving technology, wile balancing acceleration and performance with fuel economy. Pricing was also taken into account. The researchers think that the size of light trucks is likely to grow, even more than the increases they forecast for cars, with the changes coming about as soon as 2014.

"This study illustrates that there may be a substantial financial incentive to produce larger vehicles, and that it can undermine the goals of the policy," said the lead researcher, who wants the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to revise its formula. Click past the jump to read the University of Michigan's press release on the study.

Continue reading Why CAFE changes could lead to larger cars, not smaller ones

Why CAFE changes could lead to larger cars, not smaller ones originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecorporate average fuel economyenvironmental protection agencyepafuel economygas mileagenational highway trafiic safety administrationnhtsauniversity of michiganTue, 13 Dec 2011 18:21:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20127022/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/13/why-cafe-changes-could-lead-to-larger-cars-not-smaller-ones/20127022/article-detail.xml 20127022 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/12f250superduty004hr-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/12f250superduty004hr-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Volkswagen still fighting new CAFE rules]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/19/volkswagen-still-fighting-new-cafe-rules/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/19/volkswagen-still-fighting-new-cafe-rules/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/19/volkswagen-still-fighting-new-cafe-rules/#commentsVW logoWhich automaker still doesn't like the new CAFE rules? Volkswagen, that's who. After claiming the proposed 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards were biased back in August, VW is again saying, hey, wait a minute, let's not be so dismissive of diesel engines.

When the original 54.5 mpg CAFE proposal was announced (which will actually be around 40 mpg in the real world), Volkswagen did not sign on to the agreement. The reason is that VW says the current plan helps U.S. automakers by being lenient on big pickups but doesn't have much love for modern diesel vehicles.

Make that "enough love," since the EPA says the rule does give "credits for technologies with potential to achieve real-world CO2 reductions and fuel economy improvements that are not captured by the standards test procedures." According to Reuters, since August, Volkswagen America's general counsel and VW representatives have met with the White House and "transportation and environmental regulators" to express the company's concerns. We haven't heard that VW's efforts are bearing any fruit, but that doesn't mean we won't hear more about them in the future.

Volkswagen still fighting new CAFE rules originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>54.5 mpgcafecorporate average fuel economydieselfuel economymiles per gallonvolkswagenvwSat, 19 Nov 2011 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20110236/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/19/volkswagen-still-fighting-new-cafe-rules/20110236/article-detail.xml 20110236 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/16vwgolftdireview2010-2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/16vwgolftdireview2010-2.jpg <![CDATA[Fed proposes new fuel economy standard: 54.5 mpg by 2025]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/fed-proposes-new-fuel-economy-standard-54-5-mpg-by-2025/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/fed-proposes-new-fuel-economy-standard-54-5-mpg-by-2025/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/fed-proposes-new-fuel-economy-standard-54-5-mpg-by-2025/#commentsFiled under:

Sunoco gas station line

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and the White House have announced new fuel economy standards for model year 2017-2025 vehicles that will require cars and light trucks to yield a combined 54.5 mpg, as was proposed back in July.

According to the government, these new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards will help save as much as 2.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2025, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and saving vehicle owners plenty of money at the pump. In fact, the fed says that a consumer purchasing a new car in 2025 will save $6,600 in fuel costs over the lifetime of that vehicle. Of course, the technologies required to achieve these new targets will make vehicles more expensive too, but the agencies claim that consumers will still save $4,400 over the life of a vehicle after factoring in those extra costs.

The new CAFE rules will follow current 2011-2016 standards that call for cars and light trucks to hit 34.1 mpg combined by 2016. The rule is backed by over 100 members of Congress, and if adopted will undergo a 90-day comment period before becoming official.

Some members of Congress believe that the rules haven't been evaluated thoroughly enough, however. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California) has expressed concerns about the technical feasibility of the new standards. While most automakers have backed the 54.5 mpg goal, Volkswagen has been vocally against the plan in the past. While the new standards are strict, the plan does provide one single national standard for the industry to follow, unlike before where automakers met a minimum national standard as well as separate, tougher standards adopted by individual states led by California (the dreaded "patchwork" of regulation).

We're all for better fuel economy, though the tight time frame likely means that automakers will resort to costly hybrid and alt-fuel options over the next 18 years to boost their fuel economy figures, and those substantial research, development and production costs are sure to get passed on to car buyers. It will be interesting to watch how eager shoppers are to hop onto this new, greener bandwagon.

Continue reading Fed proposes new fuel economy standard: 54.5 mpg by 2025

Fed proposes new fuel economy standard: 54.5 mpg by 2025 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>54.554.5 mpgcafecafe standardscongresscorporate average fuel economydepartment of transportationenvironmental protection agencyepafuel economyfuel economy standardsmpgus department of transportationusdotWed, 16 Nov 2011 16:09:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20107715/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/16/fed-proposes-new-fuel-economy-standard-54-5-mpg-by-2025/20107715/article-detail.xml 20107715 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/gas-station-line-ap_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/gas-station-line-ap.jpg <![CDATA[<i>Consumer Reports</i>: Large majority favor stronger fuel economy standards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/consumer-reports-large-majority-favor-stronger-fuel-econ/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/consumer-reports-large-majority-favor-stronger-fuel-econ/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/consumer-reports-large-majority-favor-stronger-fuel-econ/#commentsFiled under:

Chevrolet Volt

In advance of eagerly awaited details regarding proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, Consumer Reports has released results of a new survey, and - no surprise here - 93 percent of respondents "support increased fuel efficiency." Further revelations include 77 percent in favor of car manufacturers producing more fuel-efficient vehicles, and 80 percent agreeing with fuel economy standards requiring fleet averages to top 55 miles per gallon by 2025. Mark Cooper, Director of Research at the Consumer Federation of America, said in a statement,

"These results reflect the strongest support for higher fuel economy standards and willingness to adopt new fuel savings technologies we have seen to date."

If there's anything truly interesting to be gleaned from the results, it's that 56 percent of those surveyed claim to be considering a hybrid or EV, with fuel costs cited as a primary motivation. Correspondingly, 81 percent of consumers indicate that they would be willing to pay extra for a vehicle if it was cheaper to operate.

And these weren't just readers of Consumer Reports who were being polled. The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted telephone interviews with 1,008 people over the age of 18 who were chosen as a "nationally representative probability sample."

While automakers have long decried Americans' willingness to put their money where their mouths are when it comes to fuel economy, if this survey is indeed reflective of consumer trends, that could be changing.

To read the full press release, continue past the jump.

Continue reading Consumer Reports: Large majority favor stronger fuel economy standards

Consumer Reports: Large majority favor stronger fuel economy standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafeconsumer reportscorporate average fuel economyepafuel economynhtsasurveyMon, 14 Nov 2011 17:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20105723/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/14/consumer-reports-large-majority-favor-stronger-fuel-econ/20105723/article-detail.xml 20105723 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/volteconomy02-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/volteconomy02-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ex-DOT head urges Washington to 'treat diesels fairly']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/09/ex-dot-head-urges-washington-to-treat-diesels-fairly/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/09/ex-dot-head-urges-washington-to-treat-diesels-fairly/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/09/ex-dot-head-urges-washington-to-treat-diesels-fairly/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Now that he's retired, Norman Mineta - the longest serving U.S. Transportation Secretary in history - is publicly speaking the kind of plain sense you don't much get from sitting politicians. Or, at least, he's taking the credit and the heat for it. Mineta released a white paper at a National Press Club that presented the position of the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, a group founded in 2009.

The paper title is a clear enough indicator of the lengthy points made: "The Case for Technology Neutral Public Policy in Fuel Economy Debate: Allowing Performance To Determine Solutions." Mineta asks that, instead of the government choosing which technologies it thinks are superior and supporting them with taxpayer dollars, in this case EVs and plug-in hybrids, that it take a technology-neutral approach and allow each technology and mass-market adoption decide where fiscal resources should be placed.

Among other things, the paper argues that high-efficiency gasoline and diesel engines are within 15 percent of the performance of EVs and hybrids, and that they are the most effective way to lower emissions in the near- and medium-term. As well, the Administration's preference for battery-assisted vehicles is taking R&D money away from potentially better solutions, taxpayer money should be used to subsidize technologies for so little return and - surprise - the CAFE measurement methodology is outdated.

Mineta met current Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to discuss diesels, but it would be shocking to imagine the administration would walk back from the initiatives its been pushing almost since it took office.

Ex-DOT head urges Washington to 'treat diesels fairly' originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafediesellobbyistsnorman minetatrade groupU.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Carsus coalition for advanced diesel carsWed, 09 Nov 2011 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20101489/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/09/ex-dot-head-urges-washington-to-treat-diesels-fairly/20101489/article-detail.xml 20101489 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/normanmineta_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/normanmineta.jpg <![CDATA[White House delaying release of new fuel economy standards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/28/white-house-delaying-release-of-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/28/white-house-delaying-release-of-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/28/white-house-delaying-release-of-new-fuel-economy-standards/#commentsFiled under:

62 mpg coffee mug

The Obama Administration will reportedly delay the release of the U.S.' most ambitious fuel economy proposal ever.

Word is the Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency won't be able to string together a Corporate Average Fuel Economy draft for Model Year 2017-25 for public comment by the end of this week, as was initially intended. Instead, sources close to the matter claim the proposal won't be rolled out until November, or possibly even later. But even with the expected delay, the administration should remain on track to meet its deadline of issuing final guidelines by July of 2012.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and EPA are jointly writing the regulations based on the July agreement, which tentatively calls for automakers to hit a CAFE target of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

Sources claim regulators are moving slower than anticipated on details of the official proposal to ensure it covers issues likely to be voiced during the public comment period.

White House delaying release of new fuel economy standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2025 cafecafecafe standardscorporate average fuel economyepafuel economympgobamatrnsportation departmentWed, 28 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20068731/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/28/white-house-delaying-release-of-new-fuel-economy-standards/20068731/article-detail.xml 20068731 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/abg-cafe-cup-x_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/abg-cafe-cup-x.jpg <![CDATA[Hyundai CEO downplays Corvette competitor, warns of CAFE loopholes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/28/hyundai-ceo-downplays-corvette-competitor-warns-of-cafe-loophol/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/28/hyundai-ceo-downplays-corvette-competitor-warns-of-cafe-loophol/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/28/hyundai-ceo-downplays-corvette-competitor-warns-of-cafe-loophol/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hyundai North America CEO John KrafcikLike nearly every other automaker these days, Hyundai is keenly focused on bringing fuel-efficient vehicles to market. That apparently means the automaker doesn't currently see a need for a halo sportscar to compete with the likes of the Chevrolet Corvette, though it recognizes it would be an exciting addition to the lineup. Hyundai's North American CEO, John Krafcik tells Ward's Auto that even though such a model would would be a fun addition to the family, a range-topping sports car would also probably be a poor investment that wouldn't serve the brand properly.

Krafcik is clearly focused on building more fuel efficient machines, and he argues that vehicles like the new Veloster coupe can provide sort of reverse halo from the bottom-up, not unlike the way the CTS has been the star of the Cadillac lineup for some time. This strategy seems like a smart move ahead of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements waiting just a few years down the road.

Every automaker has a reason to be concerned about CAFE, but as Krafcik points out in an interview with Ward's Auto, loopholes exist in the legal requirements that may allow car companies to switch up their product strategy without aggressively pursuing more fuel-efficient products. Larger vehicles are subject to less strict requirements, and Krafcik argues that some smaller vehicles will likely fall by the wayside as an unintended consequence. This sort of thinking could allow a few manufacturers to skirt around the more strict CAFE requirements. An example of this is the decline of the compact pickup truck, which has given way to the less-restricted full-size.

Hyundai CEO downplays Corvette competitor, warns of CAFE loopholes originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecafe standardscorporate average fuel economyhyundaihyundai ceohyundai sportscarjohn krafcikkrafcikWed, 28 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20067523/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/28/hyundai-ceo-downplays-corvette-competitor-warns-of-cafe-loophol/20067523/article-detail.xml 20067523 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/john-krafcik_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/02/john-krafcik.jpg <![CDATA[Auto engineers skeptical of meeting 2025 CAFE targets... are you?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/auto-engineers-skeptical-of-meeting-2025-cafe-targets/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/auto-engineers-skeptical-of-meeting-2025-cafe-targets/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/auto-engineers-skeptical-of-meeting-2025-cafe-targets/#commentsFiled under: ,

Spilled cafe cup on documentsMost automakers have come out to support the new 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy target of 54.5 miles per gallon. Engineers, however, aren't so sure we're ready to hit that number. Despite a stamp of approval from the Union of Concerned Scientists, the folks that design and build the actual products evidentlyfeel that the CAFE target will not be hit without serious changes to vehicle size and cost.

This seems to be a case of government officials and automakers wanting to focus on three areas; cost, efficiency and safety, yet engineers believe you can only pick two. As safety demands continue to rise, cars get heavier and larger (at least until technology allows to vehicles become basically crashproof). In order to meet rising fuel economy demands, engineers would prefer to go in the opposite direction with respect to size.

Ward's Auto surveyed nearly 1,100 engineers who work for automakers and suppliers. Part of the survey involved a question regarding the ability to hit the 2025 CAFE target using the current portfolio of available materials. This question offered participants to answer using a one to five rating scale, with one being "Not at all confident" and five "Very confident." Seventy-five percent of responders answered with a three or lower.

From the engineer's point of view, it's clear that one of three parts of this triangle will need to give. We know it won't be safety, and fuel economy is a huge part of our future. Start saving now, then, because if the engineers are right, cars are about to get much more expensive.

What do you think, will automakers manage to meet CAFE 2025 goals, or will there be new legislation or penalties dished out down the road? Have your say in Comments.

Auto engineers skeptical of meeting 2025 CAFE targets... are you? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20252025 cafe2025 cafe target54.5 mpgcafeengineersfuel economyfuel economy standardsmpgTue, 02 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20007161/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/02/auto-engineers-skeptical-of-meeting-2025-cafe-targets/20007161/article-detail.xml 20007161 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/spilled-coffee-cup_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/spilled-coffee-cup.jpg <![CDATA[New CAFE standards will result in $65B in lost revenue for road projects]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/01/new-cafe-standards-will-result-in-65b-in-lost-revenue-for-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/01/new-cafe-standards-will-result-in-65b-in-lost-revenue-for-road/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/01/new-cafe-standards-will-result-in-65b-in-lost-revenue-for-road/#commentsFiled under: ,

Road Revenue TableAccording to a new study by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, new Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards that mandate cars and light trucks average 54.5 mpg by 2025 will deprive federal highway projects of more than $65 billion in revenues.

That estimation is based on the fact that at-the-pump taxes levied on fuel are by law funneled to transportation projects. With mandatory CAFE fuel mileage increases, the amount of revenue collected from gas taxes will go down, which will cut into road revenues, the report says.

Of course, there are ways of circumventing that lost income, but all that will surely play out in the coming few years. In the meantime, click past the jump to see the report for yourself. Naturally, it's worth noting that the ARTBA, based in Washington, DC, is a group that represents the interests of road and construction workers.

Continue reading New CAFE standards will result in $65B in lost revenue for road projects

New CAFE standards will result in $65B in lost revenue for road projects originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american road and transportation builders associationartbacafecafe standardsfederal highway administrationgas taxgas taxesstudyMon, 01 Aug 2011 08:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20005216/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/01/new-cafe-standards-will-result-in-65b-in-lost-revenue-for-road/20005216/article-detail.xml 20005216 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/road-revenue-table_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/road-revenue-table.jpg <![CDATA[VW blasts new CAFE standards, alleges bias towards truck makers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/vw-blasts-new-cafe-standards-alleges-bias-towards-truck-makers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/vw-blasts-new-cafe-standards-alleges-bias-towards-truck-makers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/vw-blasts-new-cafe-standards-alleges-bias-towards-truck-makers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Volkswagen LogoAutomakers are officially choosing sides on the new proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, and while nearly every company has come out with statements of support, Volkswagen has chosen to head the camp opposed to the plan. The German company has released an official statement on President Barack Obama's 54.5 mpg corporate average by 2025, saying that VW doesn't endorse the move. Why? Apparently the people's automaker feels that the regulations unfairly target passenger cars while giving large trucks special treatment.

According to VW, passenger vehicles face a five percent annual increase in fuel economy, while light trucks merely have to attain 3.5 percent annual increases. While it's true that Volkswagen doesn't produce anything that could compete with the Ford F-150, the company's stable is stocked with a few vehicles that will fall under the light truck designation, including the Routan minivan and Touareg SUV. Additionally, Volkswagen says that the proposal pushes automakers to manufacture more large and inefficient models.

Volkswagen finds itself in thin company when it comes to its stance. So far, nearly every other automaker has come out in support of the move, including Ford, Chrysler, General Motors, Hyundai and Toyota among others. Hit the jump for VW's official statement.

Continue reading VW blasts new CAFE standards, alleges bias towards truck makers

VW blasts new CAFE standards, alleges bias towards truck makers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barack obamacafecafe proposalscorporate average fuel economyfuel economyfuel economy standardsobamavolkswagenFri, 29 Jul 2011 17:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20004732/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/29/vw-blasts-new-cafe-standards-alleges-bias-towards-truck-makers/20004732/article-detail.xml 20004732 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/vw-250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/vw-250.jpg -1 2